College ID Saves the Day and NIT Trichy testing my patience

 

                             National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli(NIT Trichy) is where i did my Bachelors degree(B.Tech) in Chemical Engineering. I completed my course on May 8,2010. In order to pursue my higher studies i was required to get some Transcripts(Consolidated Marksheet) of my Bachelors Degree in a sealed envelope signed by the dean academic. My house is in Chennai, which is around 340 KMs from Trichy. 

                             I started my journey to Trichy by Guruvayur Express which left Chennai Egmore station at 7:50 am in the morning. I had booked my ticket through Internet and printed my ticket. The Ticket is valid only if i prove my identity by either showing my original passport/Driving License/Ration Card/Pan Card/College ID card. I had a photocopy of my Driving License  and original College ID card. I usually to show my driving License photocopy, and the Ticket collector accepts it as a proof of my Identity, but it was not to be this time around. The TTR asked for my ticked and an ID proof and I showed my E-Ticket and my driving License photocopy. HE turned around and said that my ticket is INVALID. I got the shock of my life and he asked me to read the terms and conditions printed on the bottom of the ticket. To my relief i found the golden words “College ID card can be accepted as a proof of ones Identity” and showed my ID card to him and he accepted my ticket. But the guy sitting besides me was not so lucky wherein he just had a photocopy of his driving license and nothing else. The TTR cancelled his ticket and forced him to pay the fine of Rs.550 which he eventually had to shell out. I found out that my College ID, which i seldom used in College saved me from the blushes and Rs.500.

                          

                              I reached Trichy at 1:30 pm and i boarded a bus to the Central Bus Stand where i finished my lunch in a nearby restaurant. To be frank the food offered by restaurants in Trichy is very Tasty and on par with restaurants in Chennai. After this i took a bus to NIT and it took me approx. 35 minutes. After getting down from the bus i went straight to the Dean Academics office at around 4pm. To my surprise i didnt find anyone there and actually the office was locked as everyone had gone to attend the orientation programme for the first year students.  To my immense relief i saw noticed that the lady who is responsible for the issuing of Transcripts was sitting inside the office. I approached her and asked whether the transcripts ere ready and she said that she has printed the transcripts but it needs to be signed by the Dean who was still at the orientation programme. So, i waited and after about ten minutes he came and went inside his office.The Lady then went inside and placed the Transcripts form it to be signed by him. Numerous visitors poured in to meet him and he took around 1 hour for him to sign the transcripts and i was forced to wait for one hour to  get his sign which was really frustrating. I got the transcripts in as sealed envelope and started my journey towards Chennai.

US VISA Process

 

          The first thing to do after you get an admit in a US university is to apply for your F-1 Visa, Its a lengthy process and i would advice you to start your visa application process as soon as you receive your i20. You would be required to pay Rs.6700 odd in any HDFC branch in and around your place. Then you have to pay $200 as a SEVIS fee online, you can access the form using this link Sevis Fee.Please note that you should have a printer attached to your computer while paying the fees as you will not be able to access the form later. You can use this form as a proof for payment of the SEVIS fee.  You will receive a pay receipt from the sevis office that will be sent to your home., which you will receive in approximately 1 month.  Go to any Kodak showroom and get a US Visa specific passport size photo, make sure you get a soft copy of the photo in a CD as you will be required to upload it in the DS-160 form. .After this go to the US-Consulate website and fill the DS-160 form which is a pretty long one, fill this form honestly. Please note that this form will expire in twenty minutes and so save this form as you finish a part of it. After this fix an appoinment with the US Consulate. Only a few dates(5 to 6) will be available for the interview at a time and the dates will be released as they get filled up.

Preparation for the interview:

              Consolidated Financial document: One can get a consolidated financial document from a recognized Chartered Accountant and ask him to give a statement of your assets, parents income and Savings. Include as much as you can, ideally make sure that the amount quoted is more than the amount specified in your i20.

              Take Print Outs of your Resume and Curriculam Vittae. Incase you get a Pink Slip, you will be asked to submit a copy of both these documents.

              Loan Sanction Letter: If you are taking a loan from a bank, make sure you get a loan sanction letter from the branch manager.

Documents to be taken:

• i20             
• Consolidated Financial Docs
• Appointment Letter
• Passport
• Few Passport Size photos
• Sevis Fee Printed receipt
• 10th, 12th Marksheets
• GRE, Toefl marksheets
• HDFC Blue Receipt
• Assets Documents
• Loan Sanction Letter

                      I wish you all the best for your interview. Good Luck. Be calm, Confident, and be Honest everything will go smoothly. It will be a very short interview, hardly 2 Mins. Reach the consulate office half an hour before your appointment time.